Fleet management is a gruelling task with numerous challenges. And, these challenges can impede your efforts to manage vehicle fleets and drivers efficiently. For accomplishing the objectives of fleet business, you should be able to pick up and drop merchandise in a prompt, secure, and cost-effective manner.
Adverse circumstances ordinarily faced by the fleet managers include:
- Vehicle break down
- Adverse weather leading to road closure
- Drivers gone astray
- Disappeared trailers
- Road accidents
Nevertheless, it is not simple to excel in every fleet related tasks. Presumably, a GPS vehicle tracking system integrated with the
fleet management software assists you to track and supervise the fleet related activities. Meanwhile, well-organized fleets augment your fleet profits.
The following is an ultimate checklist, which attribute certain essential guidelines for ensuring fleet efficiency:
1. Oversee and guide vehicles and drivers
A GPS vehicle tracking system provides real-time data of every vehicle, which assists you to boost the competence of fleets. By utilizing the trackers, you can check whether a fleet driver is punctual, secure, and able to commit their respective duty properly.
Without GPS trackers, it is impossible
to determine the current location of each vehicle in your fleet or recognize the status of fleet performance. Furthermore, you will be able to receive alerts whenever a vehicle reaches or departs from a particular location.
2. Choose economic fleet routing
With the route optimization facility in GPS trackers, you will be able to choose the convenient, and cost-effective route for fleets that has several destinations. Consequently,
route optimization saves the valuable time of both dispatchers and drivers, and hence different tasks can be completed promptly.
And this enhances the overall productivity of drivers, consuming the least amount of fuel. Once you monitor them as part of enhancing the business efficiency, they will certainly comply with the schedule and avoid unnecessary trips.
3. Assess driver performance
The fleet tracking tools provide data regarding driver performance and their productivity. And you will be able to identify the precarious driving behavior such as tailgating, over speeding, and harsh braking through instant alerts.
Whenever a vehicle is moved out of a predetermined area, you will be notified via the
Geo-fencing alerts. However, by realizing the fact that they are being monitored, you will be able to witness a positive driving behavior among fleet drivers such as obedience to safety rules, conformity to speed limits, and proper utilization of seat belts.
4. Follow maintenance schedule
Preventative maintenance is essential for maintaining fleet's efficiency. However, this in turn elongates the vehicle service, enhances driver safety, and reduce the
overall repair costs.
With the support of a GPS tracking system, you will be able to receive automatic maintenance alerts for oil changes and tune-ups, and integrate the vehicle service records. Consequently, a GPS tracking system integrates preventative maintenance properly. The merits include:
- Paperless vehicle operation
- Service record management for fleets
- Track maintenance histories and schedules
- Records on the maintenance, the date by which maintenance is conducted and the person who provided the service
Examine Compliance and Ensure Driver Safety
It is wise for you to conform to the legal regulations, otherwise it will result in penalties and legal fees. A GPS tracking system assists you to remain updated with the latest rules and regulations that includes:
- Agreement indicating hours of service and requirements of the Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR)
- Electronic Logging Device (ELD) agreement that consists of duty status records
- Recognize driver risk, thereby performs driver procedures and provide appropriate training for risky drivers in order to lessen the number of accidents, or claims
5. Oversee vehicle replacement cycles
With the assistance of GPS tracking, you will be able to realize when a vehicle should be replaced. Certain factors affecting the replacement cycle include the engine miles, service and repair issues, and vehicle age.
Moreover, the vehicles kept in possession after the replacement cycles, can result in additional repairs, and extended turnaround times. Sudden vehicle downtime can be expensive both directly and indirectly.
As a matter of fact, if you aim for a reputed and efficient fleet, following the above checklist can be valuable. However a
GPS tracking system provides a greater support to overcome the problematic business concerns.
